Senior Protection Advisor, P-5

Senior Protection Advisor, P-5

UNRWA – United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Gaza

Org. Setting and Reporting

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to make a change. If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you. The Senior Protection Advisor reports to the Senior Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs (Programmes) and receives advice and strategic guidance on substantive and Agency level protection and humanitarian principles issues from the Chief, Protection Division at Headquarters.

Responsibilities

• Acts as the principal advisor to Gaza field senior management in managing all the programmatic, operational and advocacy aspects of protection and humanitarian principles in the field; develops and implements strategies and frameworks related to protection and humanitarian principles and proposes adaptations in line with these frameworks during emergency periods as required;
• Provides strategic oversight and direction for the Protection Unit in the Gaza Field Office through coordinating and supporting the development and implementation of field and cluster specific strategies, policies, principles and practices on protection and humanitarian principles; establishes medium- and long-term operational objectives and results including budgeting of activities under the supervision of the Senior Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs (Programmes), Gaza Field Office, and with the support of the Protection Division in HQ, in line with the Agency’s protection strategic framework and UNRWA’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan;
• Oversees formulation of substantive Gaza Field Office Protection Work Plan and enhances collaboration and coordination with the UNRWA Programmes to ensure that UNRWA’s service delivery and operations, including during emergency periods, aligns with protection standards and humanitarian principles through support to health, education, relief and social services and other core UNRWA programmes on key thematic areas such as gender/GBV, child protection and disability and inclusion; develops and coordinates responses to emerging protection and humanitarian principles in the field with the Chief of the Protection Division in HQ to ensure the field response is aligned with the Agency policy and approach; – Identifies gaps in programming to develop and adapt strategic protection responses in line with UNRWA’s mandate and in coordination with humanitarian clusters; anticipates challenges and risks; develops forward-thinking strategies to prevent and respond to emerging protection needs;
• Conducts outreach, awareness-raising and advocacy with relevant parties and stakeholders, on protection and humanitarian principles issues and risks affecting Palestine refugees and others that may fall under UNRWA’s mandate; oversees the development and maintenance of protection monitoring and documentation tools and methods; implements advocacy and awareness with other interlocutors around the work of UNRWA highlighting protection concerns and needs of the Palestine refugee community in accordance with international law; coordinates all aspects of international law as it relates to protection with the Field Legal Office and relevant HQ departments/divisions as required;
• Is responsible and accountable for ensuring management of protection specific resources and achievement of results; ensures that the functions are aligned with the regulatory framework of UNRWA; supports the development of new fundraising opportunities and proposals.

Competencies

• UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default.
• Default managerial competencies may apply;
  • Formulating Strategies and Concepts;
  • Delivering Results Analyzing;
  • Leading and Supervising;
  • Planning and Organizing.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited university-level academic institution in law, political or social sciences or a related discipline.

Work Experience

• At least ten years of relevant and supervisory experience in international organizations, other relevant UN agencies or NGOs, in the humanitarian/development sector with a focus on protection and human rights is required. Demonstrated experience in Protection Cluster, Inter Cluster Coordination Group experience and understanding of the specific humanitarian coordination architecture is required. Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of citizenship is required.

Languages

• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Apply Now